The ingredient's label is the first
step in assessing the effectiveness of any nutritional supplement. Unlike many
fat-burning products, Hourglass Fit doesn't hide behind proprietary blends so
you know exactly what you're getting: a vegan-friendly blend of herbal and root
extracts, vitamins and minerals.
Here's the ingredient list in full,
including the dosage per serving understood as four capsules taken daily,
alongside the scientific research attesting to its efficacy. The only thing that we could say is missing would be a source of caffeine (which is an effective appetite suppressant and raises your metabolism), but a lot of us prefer to get our caffeine from coffee, and caffeine pills are cheap and readily available. So what's in hourglass fit?
Glucomannan – 3000mg
Glucomannan is perhaps the most
effective appetite suppressant. It is a dietary fibre extracted from the konjac
plant which, when eaten, expands in the stomach and is then slowly released,
helping you to feel fuller for longer.
Numerous studies have found it to be a
powerful weight loss supplement due to these properties, with one critical
review of the scientific literature to date concluding that at doses of 2 to
4mg it is well-tolerated and results in significant weight loss. [1]
Furthermore, this research suggests it
also improves glycemic status, making it easier to control sugar cravings.
Hourglass Fit's hefty 3000mg dose
means you get to experience these benefits.
5-HTP – 150mg
Dieting often has the
counterproductive effect of spurring women's bodies to produce 'hunger hormones'.
That's why Hourglass Fit includes
5-HTP, an amino acid that naturally stimulates serotonin production.
Research suggests this 'feel-good'
chemical counteracts the effects of hunger hormones, making it easier to keep
cravings at bay and control your calorie consumption. [2]
Another study found that after just 4
weeks of taking 5-HTP supplements, participants reported increased satiety as
well as a reduced body mass index. [3]
Vitamin B6 (1.7mg), Vitamin B12 (2.4mcg),
Vitamin B2 (1.1mg)
B vitamins are vital additions to any
calorie-controlled diet. Each plays a crucial role in converting food into
energy by increasing your metabolism, meaning you get the most out of your
meals.
One serving of Hourglass Fit contains
100 percent of your recommended daily intake for each of these vitamins, so you
don't need to worry about being deficient in any of them.
Zinc – 8mg
Our bodies need a lot of zinc relative
to other trace minerals, and sadly many of us are lacking it.
This is a problem as zinc supports
numerous vital bodily processes including metabolism regulation. [4] It also
helps your body store and releases insulin at optimal levels, which helps with
appetite control. [5]
Chromium (125mcg)
Chromium has been included in
Hourglass Fit primarily for its ability to reduce food cravings and intake [6],
with one study noting, in particular, its capacity to suppress cravings for
carbohydrates, which tends to be the calorie source many women struggle with.
[7]
Cayenne Pepper Extract – 100mg
Hourglass fit contains a patented
cayenne pepper extract called Capsimax, which only hosts bioactive
capsaicinoids. These are extremely potent thermogenic fat burners that the
Capsimax formula can deliver at highly concentrated doses.
Thermogenic refers to the calories your body consumes creating heat, hence you are raising your metabolism and burning energy, but without
burning your tongue!
This is backed up by research that
found capsaicin intake resulted in increased fat oxidation in research
participants. [8] That said, thermogenic calorie burning effects are typically the least effective element of weight loss aids, even if you do burn an extra one hundred calories that can all be undone by one slice of cheese!
Black Pepper Extract – 5mg
Another patented extract, Bioperine is
taken from black pepper as a concentrated form of piperine, an alkaloid proven
to lower weight gain even if your diet remains the same. [9] It does this by
triggering the release of fat-regulating receptors TRPA1 and TRPV1, which
boosts your metabolism and restricts fat cellular growth.